Janet Zurier, 92

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Janet R. (Rosen) Zurier, of Providence, passed away Dec. 15, 2022. She was the wife of Melvin Zurier, with whom she shared 71 years of marriage.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Helen (Greenfield) Rosen and sister of the late Marvin Rosen and Phyllis Herman. The family moved from Philadelphia to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where Janet attended public schools.

After earning a bachelor’s degree and receiving academic honors at Penn State, Janet earned a master’s degree in education from Harvard University and a second master’s in education from Rhode Island College. She pursued a doctoral degree at Boston University’s School of Education.

Mrs. Zurier was a teacher as well as a learner. She was a respected professional in early childhood education and special education in the Providence Public Schools for many years, continuing past her expected retirement date because she loved her work so much. On her retirement, she established a fund for the benefit of children at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in Providence. She was a founder of Volunteers in Providence Schools (now Inspiring Minds) and served as a docent at the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design. A world traveler, she and Melvin met with families in each country they visited, and Janet always sought out teachers.

An active member of the local Jewish community, Janet was a longtime member of Temple Beth El in Providence and was chair of the Career Women’s Affiliate of the Rhode Island Jewish Alliance. She was an accomplished gardener and a much-appreciated cook.

In addition to her husband, survivors include: four children, Rebecca Zurier and her husband, Thomas Willette, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Samuel Zurier and his wife, Lauren, of Providence; Benjamin Zurier and his wife, Linda Movish, of New York City; and Sarah Zurier and her husband, Jonathan Bell, of Providence; eight grandchildren, Rachel Zurier and her husband, Daniel Fishman; Jack, Hannah, William and Joseph Zurier, Nathan and Aaron Willette, and Zachary Bell as well as many nieces and nephews. She was also the sister-in-law of the late Hilda Glickman and Rosalind Gever.

Contributions may be made to Inspiring Minds, 65 Pavilion Ave., Providence, RI 02905 (inspiringmindsri.org) or your favorite charity.